Winter is looming and about to come into full swing. It’s time to get your cosy on with these 9 ways to turn your room into a comfy winter retreat!
Lighting
Nothing can transform a room more drastically than the right lighting, and nothing feels more right for the winter time than a lovely, soft glow. How does one achieve the kind of glow that encourages cosiness and long chats about existentialism, film, and fleeting encounters? Well, I’ve got you covered.
1. Fairy Lights.
Everywhere. Around the window, above the bed, on your book shelf, around your mirror… anything you can adhere them to must be absolutely covered. Do you think you have enough? Add another five strands. Have you ever heard of too many fairy lights?? Yeah, didn’t think so.
Studying has never felt so romantic
2. Tea Lights
On that same note, tea lights have so much transformative power for the atmosphere of a room. Emulate the feeling of sitting in front of a lovely fireplace by dotting them around focal points in your domain – just make sure you put them out whenever you leave.
Bracing the Cold
One of the few disadvantages of Durham is the terrible cold we endure during the winter season. Add beautiful, but badly insulated old buildings and windows into the mix, and you have yourself a freezer for a room. Here are some budget options that will thaw your domain:
3. Toasty bed
Embrace your inner granny and go for a heated blanket – there is nothing like hopping into a warm, toasty bed for a nice read. Mine is easily hidden underneath my bedsheet. Late night writing sessions have also been greatly improved by adding some extra warmth. Just pop it on the chair and do your thing!
4. More warmth, please!
Alternatively, invest in a miniature heater – those things can heat up a room in no time. Do make sure to switch it off before you go to sleep though!
5. Texture Fun
There must be fluff everywhere! Winter is the season to embrace cosy blankets, sheepskin rugs, and anything velvet. Play around with different luxurious and soft textures to add a cosy wintery vibe to your room. Top tip: purchase velvet fabric and use it as a throw to transform your bed into a comfy and luxurious sofa for the day! Mixing and matching textures can immediately make a room so much homelier and inviting, which is exactly what you should be going for this winter.
6. Scents
I don’t know about you, but thinking of winter conjures up so many olfactory memories and references in my mind. Scented candles, incense, or a scent diffuser can transport you to a Christmas bakery, snowy fields, or even the hot beach you are reminiscing about within minutes. Especially at this time of the year, it is fun to experiment with heavier, deeper scents – try something spicy, earthy or smoky to accent the cosiness of your room.
Beating the winter blues
Winter in the North can be tough. As somebody who struggles with getting up early in general, the darker months can sometimes make it feel like days are over before they even start.
7. Let the sun in
My first recommendation is a sunlight therapy lamp. Put it on your desk and it will keep you going throughout energy slumps in the dark afternoons and evenings. There are many different varieties and price points available, and most of these lamps are discrete. They also conveniently double up as great make-up lights!
8. Plants are friends
Another thing that entirely spruces up a room in the winter months is plants. Adding some literal life to your abode can really enhance it, and it feels lovely coming back to a room containing an abundance of green after seeing so much grey outside. Plants like ferns, cacti, and succulents require barely any care or sunlight, making them perfect additions to your room.
9. That beautiful sound
My cosiness investment this year will be a vinyl record player. There simply is no cosier sound than She & Him or Billie Holiday playing with that charming crackle. Call me pretentious, but give it a go first.
Happy decorating!